The latest officially reported population of Sao Tome and Principe was 235,536 in 2024 vs 8,642,022 people in Sierra Leone in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Sao Tome and Principe's population is 246,362 people compared to 9,049,533 in Sierra Leone.
Population statistics:
- Sierra Leone's population is 36.7 times bigger than Sao Tome and Principe's.
- Sao Tome and Principe is ranked the 176th most populous country in the world, while Sierra Leone is the 101st.
- The countries together account for 0.11% of the world: 0.003% for Sao Tome and Principe vs 0.11% for Sierra Leone.
- For the last 10 years, Sao Tome and Principe has had an average growth rate of +1.82% per year vs +2.32% in Sierra Leone.
- Since 2006, the population of Sao Tome and Principe has increased from 166K people to 246K (48.7% growth), while Sierra Leone has grown from 5.62M to 9.05M (60.9% growth).
Sao Tome and Principe vs Sierra Leone: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
Sao Tome
|
Sierra Leone
|
|
| 2100 | 538,729 | 16,111,324 |
| 2099 | 537,330 | 16,126,181 |
| 2098 | 535,787 | 16,139,280 |
| 2097 | 534,124 | 16,154,153 |
| 2096 | 532,353 | 16,164,923 |
| 2095 | 530,576 | 16,173,557 |
| 2094 | 528,656 | 16,173,155 |
| 2093 | 526,643 | 16,177,864 |
| 2092 | 524,507 | 16,175,032 |
| 2091 | 522,325 | 16,168,153 |
| 2090 | 519,999 | 16,158,415 |
| 2089 | 517,612 | 16,146,773 |
| 2088 | 515,098 | 16,133,018 |
| 2087 | 512,568 | 16,116,823 |
| 2086 | 510,018 | 16,089,780 |
| 2085 | 507,340 | 16,068,438 |
| 2084 | 504,584 | 16,044,782 |
| 2083 | 501,679 | 16,011,134 |
| 2082 | 498,722 | 15,975,073 |
| 2081 | 495,689 | 15,935,071 |
| 2080 | 492,482 | 15,896,846 |
| 2079 | 489,244 | 15,854,898 |
| 2078 | 485,930 | 15,805,607 |
| 2077 | 482,450 | 15,754,551 |
| 2076 | 478,942 | 15,699,439 |
| 2075 | 475,380 | 15,639,458 |
| 2074 | 471,763 | 15,584,377 |
| 2073 | 468,114 | 15,516,736 |
| 2072 | 464,348 | 15,446,543 |
| 2071 | 460,509 | 15,374,790 |
| 2070 | 456,552 | 15,297,449 |
| 2069 | 452,449 | 15,216,666 |
| 2068 | 448,367 | 15,128,048 |
| 2067 | 444,152 | 15,032,144 |
| 2066 | 439,833 | 14,935,222 |
| 2065 | 435,561 | 14,837,697 |
| 2064 | 431,126 | 14,740,749 |
| 2063 | 426,703 | 14,642,031 |
| 2062 | 422,184 | 14,529,557 |
| 2061 | 417,686 | 14,423,861 |
| 2060 | 413,117 | 14,311,215 |
| 2059 | 408,577 | 14,198,706 |
| 2058 | 404,024 | 14,080,827 |
| 2057 | 399,413 | 13,960,869 |
| 2056 | 394,844 | 13,836,132 |
| 2055 | 390,153 | 13,706,113 |
| 2054 | 385,468 | 13,579,802 |
| 2053 | 380,737 | 13,444,465 |
| 2052 | 376,015 | 13,303,409 |
| 2051 | 371,194 | 13,156,370 |
| 2050 | 366,397 | 13,010,109 |
| 2049 | 361,591 | 12,867,021 |
| 2048 | 356,742 | 12,716,015 |
| 2047 | 351,861 | 12,570,250 |
| 2046 | 346,888 | 12,414,307 |
| 2045 | 341,838 | 12,257,874 |
| 2044 | 336,792 | 12,092,075 |
| 2043 | 331,713 | 11,931,531 |
| 2042 | 326,652 | 11,770,467 |
| 2041 | 321,594 | 11,602,993 |
| 2040 | 316,457 | 11,431,337 |
| 2039 | 311,279 | 11,262,807 |
| 2038 | 306,071 | 11,100,099 |
| 2037 | 300,875 | 10,931,629 |
| 2036 | 295,624 | 10,760,758 |
| 2035 | 290,400 | 10,585,702 |
| 2034 | 285,183 | 10,413,826 |
| 2033 | 279,990 | 10,241,196 |
| 2032 | 274,835 | 10,062,575 |
| 2031 | 269,740 | 9,883,708 |
| 2030 | 264,723 | 9,708,038 |
| 2029 | 259,705 | 9,532,000 |
| 2028 | 254,751 | 9,360,873 |
| 2027 | 249,860 | 9,179,702 |
| 2026 | 245,066 | 9,001,269 |
| 2025 | 240,286 | 8,822,114 |
| 2024 | 235,536 | 8,642,022 |
| 2023 | 230,871 | 8,460,512 |
| 2022 | 226,305 | 8,276,807 |
| 2021 | 221,961 | 8,094,602 |
| 2020 | 217,435 | 7,912,558 |
| 2019 | 213,392 | 7,731,991 |
| 2018 | 210,187 | 7,554,563 |
| 2017 | 206,970 | 7,379,299 |
| 2016 | 203,689 | 7,205,328 |
| 2015 | 200,291 | 7,037,655 |
| 2014 | 196,767 | 6,876,385 |
| 2013 | 193,148 | 6,714,051 |
| 2012 | 189,439 | 6,551,080 |
| 2011 | 185,649 | 6,387,251 |
| 2010 | 181,802 | 6,222,714 |
| 2009 | 177,853 | 6,055,646 |
| 2008 | 173,793 | 5,894,722 |
| 2007 | 169,700 | 5,749,352 |
| 2006 | 165,638 | 5,624,466 |
| 2005 | 161,639 | 5,501,712 |
| 2004 | 157,705 | 5,355,717 |
| 2003 | 153,814 | 5,177,687 |
| 2002 | 149,922 | 4,971,435 |
| 2001 | 146,375 | 4,692,716 |
| 2000 | 144,018 | 4,423,611 |
| 1999 | 142,442 | 4,318,043 |
| 1998 | 140,751 | 4,295,785 |
| 1997 | 138,922 | 4,253,716 |
| 1996 | 136,962 | 4,199,210 |
| 1995 | 134,895 | 4,179,179 |
| 1994 | 132,732 | 4,173,105 |
| 1993 | 130,467 | 4,157,130 |
| 1992 | 128,110 | 4,166,366 |
| 1991 | 125,697 | 4,246,267 |
| 1990 | 122,980 | 4,196,828 |
| 1989 | 119,979 | 4,034,037 |
| 1988 | 116,939 | 3,934,517 |
| 1987 | 113,919 | 3,829,718 |
| 1986 | 111,150 | 3,728,380 |
| 1985 | 108,658 | 3,638,438 |
| 1984 | 106,394 | 3,558,758 |
| 1983 | 104,380 | 3,481,646 |
| 1982 | 102,508 | 3,408,183 |
| 1981 | 100,615 | 3,338,940 |
| 1980 | 98,544 | 3,272,089 |
| 1979 | 96,252 | 3,207,499 |
| 1978 | 93,794 | 3,145,517 |
| 1977 | 91,301 | 3,085,354 |
| 1976 | 88,922 | 3,028,820 |
| 1975 | 86,708 | 2,974,657 |
| 1974 | 84,672 | 2,920,459 |
| 1973 | 82,798 | 2,866,955 |
| 1972 | 81,041 | 2,814,388 |
| 1971 | 79,330 | 2,763,222 |
| 1970 | 77,626 | 2,712,286 |
| 1969 | 76,083 | 2,661,365 |
| 1968 | 74,765 | 2,611,532 |
| 1967 | 73,596 | 2,562,384 |
| 1966 | 72,576 | 2,514,638 |
| 1965 | 71,680 | 2,468,666 |
| 1964 | 70,865 | 2,424,390 |
| 1963 | 70,112 | 2,382,258 |
| 1962 | 69,403 | 2,342,242 |
| 1961 | 68,707 | 2,304,227 |
| 1960 | 68,012 | 2,268,356 |
Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/sao-tome-and-principe/sierra-leone | CC BY 
From 2006 to 2016, the population of Sao Tome and Principe increased by 38,051 people (a 23% growth), while Sierra Leone gained 1,580,862 people (a 28.1% growth).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Sao Tome and Principe gained 42,673 people (a 21% growth), while Sierra Leone's population increased by 1,844,205 people (a 25.6% growth).
Sao Tome and Principe was ranked 178th most populous country in 2006 and is 176th in 2026. Sierra Leone was ranked 106th in 2006 and ranked 101st now.
The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Sao Tome and Principe's population will grow by 48.7% to 366,397 people with a rank change from 176th to 175th. The population of Sierra Leone will increase by 43.8% to 13,010,109 people and rank change from 101st to 91st.
Sao Tome and Principe is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 539K people compared to the peak of 16.2M people in 2093 for Sierra Leone.
Population growth rate by year
| Year | Growth rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
Sao Tome
|
Sierra Leone
|
|
| 2100 | 0.26% | -0.09% |
| 2099 | 0.29% | -0.08% |
| 2098 | 0.31% | -0.09% |
| 2097 | 0.33% | -0.07% |
| 2096 | 0.33% | -0.05% |
| 2095 | 0.36% | 0.002% |
| 2094 | 0.38% | -0.03% |
| 2093 | 0.41% | 0.02% |
| 2092 | 0.42% | 0.04% |
| 2091 | 0.45% | 0.06% |
| 2090 | 0.46% | 0.07% |
| 2089 | 0.49% | 0.09% |
| 2088 | 0.49% | 0.1% |
| 2087 | 0.5% | 0.17% |
| 2086 | 0.53% | 0.13% |
| 2085 | 0.55% | 0.15% |
| 2084 | 0.58% | 0.21% |
| 2083 | 0.59% | 0.23% |
| 2082 | 0.61% | 0.25% |
| 2081 | 0.65% | 0.24% |
| 2080 | 0.66% | 0.26% |
| 2079 | 0.68% | 0.31% |
| 2078 | 0.72% | 0.32% |
| 2077 | 0.73% | 0.35% |
| 2076 | 0.75% | 0.38% |
| 2075 | 0.77% | 0.35% |
| 2074 | 0.78% | 0.44% |
| 2073 | 0.81% | 0.45% |
| 2072 | 0.83% | 0.47% |
| 2071 | 0.87% | 0.51% |
| 2070 | 0.91% | 0.53% |
| 2069 | 0.91% | 0.59% |
| 2068 | 0.95% | 0.64% |
| 2067 | 0.98% | 0.65% |
| 2066 | 0.98% | 0.66% |
| 2065 | 1.03% | 0.66% |
| 2064 | 1.04% | 0.67% |
| 2063 | 1.07% | 0.77% |
| 2062 | 1.08% | 0.73% |
| 2061 | 1.11% | 0.79% |
| 2060 | 1.11% | 0.79% |
| 2059 | 1.13% | 0.84% |
| 2058 | 1.15% | 0.86% |
| 2057 | 1.16% | 0.9% |
| 2056 | 1.2% | 0.95% |
| 2055 | 1.22% | 0.93% |
| 2054 | 1.24% | 1.01% |
| 2053 | 1.26% | 1.06% |
| 2052 | 1.3% | 1.12% |
| 2051 | 1.31% | 1.12% |
| 2050 | 1.33% | 1.11% |
| 2049 | 1.36% | 1.19% |
| 2048 | 1.39% | 1.16% |
| 2047 | 1.43% | 1.26% |
| 2046 | 1.48% | 1.28% |
| 2045 | 1.5% | 1.37% |
| 2044 | 1.53% | 1.35% |
| 2043 | 1.55% | 1.37% |
| 2042 | 1.57% | 1.44% |
| 2041 | 1.62% | 1.5% |
| 2040 | 1.66% | 1.5% |
| 2039 | 1.7% | 1.47% |
| 2038 | 1.73% | 1.54% |
| 2037 | 1.78% | 1.59% |
| 2036 | 1.8% | 1.65% |
| 2035 | 1.83% | 1.65% |
| 2034 | 1.85% | 1.69% |
| 2033 | 1.88% | 1.78% |
| 2032 | 1.89% | 1.81% |
| 2031 | 1.9% | 1.81% |
| 2030 | 1.93% | 1.85% |
| 2029 | 1.94% | 1.83% |
| 2028 | 1.96% | 1.97% |
| 2027 | 1.96% | 1.98% |
| 2026 | 1.99% | 2.03% |
| 2025 | 2.02% | 2.08% |
| 2024 | 2.02% | 2.15% |
| 2023 | 2.02% | 2.22% |
| 2022 | 1.96% | 2.25% |
| 2021 | 2.08% | 2.3% |
| 2020 | 1.89% | 2.34% |
| 2019 | 1.52% | 2.35% |
| 2018 | 1.55% | 2.38% |
| 2017 | 1.61% | 2.41% |
| 2016 | 1.7% | 2.38% |
| 2015 | 1.79% | 2.35% |
| 2014 | 1.87% | 2.42% |
| 2013 | 1.96% | 2.49% |
| 2012 | 2.04% | 2.56% |
| 2011 | 2.12% | 2.64% |
| 2010 | 2.22% | 2.76% |
| 2009 | 2.34% | 2.73% |
| 2008 | 2.41% | 2.53% |
| 2007 | 2.45% | 2.22% |
| 2006 | 2.47% | 2.23% |
| 2005 | 2.49% | 2.73% |
| 2004 | 2.53% | 3.44% |
| 2003 | 2.6% | 4.15% |
| 2002 | 2.42% | 5.94% |
| 2001 | 1.64% | 6.08% |
| 2000 | 1.11% | 2.44% |
| 1999 | 1.2% | 0.52% |
| 1998 | 1.32% | 0.99% |
| 1997 | 1.43% | 1.3% |
| 1996 | 1.53% | 0.48% |
| 1995 | 1.63% | 0.15% |
| 1994 | 1.74% | 0.38% |
| 1993 | 1.84% | -0.22% |
| 1992 | 1.92% | -1.88% |
| 1991 | 2.21% | 1.18% |
| 1990 | 2.5% | 4.04% |
| 1989 | 2.6% | 2.53% |
| 1988 | 2.65% | 2.74% |
| 1987 | 2.49% | 2.72% |
| 1986 | 2.29% | 2.47% |
| 1985 | 2.13% | 2.24% |
| 1984 | 1.93% | 2.21% |
| 1983 | 1.83% | 2.16% |
| 1982 | 1.88% | 2.07% |
| 1981 | 2.1% | 2.04% |
| 1980 | 2.38% | 2.01% |
| 1979 | 2.62% | 1.97% |
| 1978 | 2.73% | 1.95% |
| 1977 | 2.68% | 1.87% |
| 1976 | 2.55% | 1.82% |
| 1975 | 2.4% | 1.86% |
| 1974 | 2.26% | 1.87% |
| 1973 | 2.17% | 1.87% |
| 1972 | 2.16% | 1.85% |
| 1971 | 2.2% | 1.88% |
| 1970 | 2.03% | 1.91% |
| 1969 | 1.76% | 1.91% |
| 1968 | 1.59% | 1.92% |
| 1967 | 1.41% | 1.9% |
| 1966 | 1.25% | 1.86% |
| 1965 | 1.15% | 1.83% |
| 1964 | 1.07% | 1.77% |
| 1963 | 1.02% | 1.71% |
| 1962 | 1.01% | 1.65% |
| 1961 | 1.02% | 1.58% |
Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/sao-tome-and-principe/sierra-leone | CC BY
In 2024, the population of Sao Tome and Principe grew by 2.02%, while Sierra Leone's population grew by 2.15%.
Live population counters
|
Sao Tome
|
Sierra Leone
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
246362
|
9049533
|
| Population rank | 176/197 | 101/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.003% | 0.11% |
| One net population change |
1.88 hours
|
2.9 minutes
|
| One birth every |
1.35 hours
|
2.03 minutes
|
| One death every |
6.81 hours
|
7.5 minutes
|
| Daily growth/decline | +13 | +497 |
| Annual growth/decline | +4,665 | +181,510 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +2.02% | +2.15% |
| Population growth rate rank | 49/197 | 47/197 |
| One migration net change every |
13.5 hours
|
46.6 minutes
|
| Annual migration change | -650 | -11,309 |
| Net migration rank | 90/196 | 136/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 1,955 | 49,997 |
| Foreign-born residents rank | 194/195 | 151/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 0.8% | 0.6% |
| Foreign-born share rank | 162/195 | 174/195 |
Natural population change vs migration
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Sao Tome
|
Sierra Leone
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | -650 | - | -11,309 |
| 2024 | - | -604 | - | -11,000 |
| 2023 | 5,221 | -592 | 188,788 | -4,000 |
| 2022 | 5,102 | -592 | 186,625 | -4,000 |
| 2021 | 4,954 | -782 | 183,326 | -1,544 |
| 2020 | 4,874 | 0 | 181,015 | 1,292 |
| 2019 | 4,932 | -1,716 | 181,068 | -2,238 |
| 2018 | 4,957 | -1,757 | 178,772 | -2,741 |
| 2017 | 5,007 | -1,779 | 173,259 | 1,234 |
| 2016 | 5,125 | -1,793 | 168,784 | 4,657 |
| 2015 | 5,269 | -1,809 | 162,275 | -356 |
| 2014 | 5,381 | -1,801 | 160,137 | 485 |
| 2013 | 5,449 | -1,787 | 161,265 | 2,773 |
| 2012 | 5,501 | -1,739 | 160,915 | 988 |
| 2011 | 5,445 | -1,616 | 158,858 | 6,895 |
| 2010 | 5,391 | -1,529 | 155,338 | 7,983 |
| 2009 | 5,349 | -1,328 | 152,669 | 18,145 |
| 2008 | 5,297 | -1,203 | 149,855 | 1,182 |
| 2007 | 5,226 | -1,127 | 145,740 | -6,042 |
| 2006 | 5,057 | -1,031 | 144,127 | -34,052 |
| 2005 | 4,897 | -941 | 137,234 | -1,805 |
| 2004 | 4,810 | -894 | 132,661 | 23,897 |
| 2003 | 4,702 | -816 | 130,312 | 69,185 |
| 2002 | 4,591 | -690 | 126,429 | 86,578 |
| 2001 | 4,471 | -1,289 | 116,647 | 227,791 |
| 2000 | 4,334 | -2,798 | 110,754 | 83,013 |
| 1999 | 4,221 | -2,594 | 102,295 | -84,926 |
| 1998 | 4,120 | -2,364 | 103,906 | -76,766 |
| 1997 | 4,041 | -2,153 | 105,433 | -48,437 |
| 1996 | 3,993 | -1,974 | 104,140 | -52,110 |
| 1995 | 3,948 | -1,829 | 100,885 | -112,857 |
| 1994 | 3,860 | -1,644 | 101,486 | -77,371 |
| 1993 | 3,841 | -1,527 | 103,317 | -95,476 |
| 1992 | 3,822 | -1,432 | 103,251 | -129,565 |
| 1991 | 3,801 | -1,362 | 105,477 | -238,965 |
| 1990 | 3,719 | -727 | 100,778 | 131,587 |
| 1989 | 3,576 | -571 | 98,298 | -5,079 |
| 1988 | 3,544 | -465 | 96,344 | 9,470 |
| 1987 | 3,440 | -470 | 94,235 | 9,558 |
| 1986 | 3,180 | -614 | 90,902 | 7,992 |
| 1985 | 3,242 | -828 | 88,869 | -7,873 |
| 1984 | 3,163 | -1,041 | 87,072 | -8,708 |
| 1983 | 3,100 | -1,203 | 84,628 | -8,783 |
| 1982 | 3,047 | -1,203 | 82,457 | -11,379 |
| 1981 | 3,015 | -1,067 | 80,111 | -12,699 |
| 1980 | 2,965 | -770 | 77,932 | -11,641 |
| 1979 | 2,893 | -491 | 75,992 | -13,095 |
| 1978 | 2,800 | -279 | 74,130 | -13,073 |
| 1977 | 2,705 | -255 | 71,663 | -12,399 |
| 1976 | 2,608 | -302 | 69,506 | -15,686 |
| 1975 | 2,515 | -392 | 67,560 | -13,058 |
| 1974 | 2,422 | -474 | 65,357 | -11,473 |
| 1973 | 2,329 | -525 | 62,443 | -9,322 |
| 1972 | 2,232 | -517 | 60,279 | -8,267 |
| 1971 | 2,127 | -430 | 58,484 | -8,162 |
| 1970 | 1,980 | -279 | 56,513 | -4,957 |
| 1969 | 1,862 | -469 | 54,768 | -4,485 |
| 1968 | 1,767 | -520 | 53,126 | -3,743 |
| 1967 | 1,693 | -606 | 51,734 | -2,819 |
| 1966 | 1,642 | -688 | 49,486 | -2,911 |
| 1965 | 1,611 | -765 | 47,223 | -1,851 |
| 1964 | 1,600 | -819 | 45,487 | -2,308 |
| 1963 | 1,609 | -886 | 43,569 | -2,480 |
| 1962 | 1,625 | -927 | 41,603 | -2,658 |
| 1961 | 1,657 | -960 | 40,022 | -2,947 |
| 1960 | 1,547 | -860 | 38,192 | -3,528 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/sao-tome-and-principe/sierra-leone | CC BY
Over the last 10 years, 80.1% of the population change in Sao Tome and Principe is from natural causes (a gain of 50,822 people) and 19.9% is from migration (a loss of 12,621 people). In Sierra Leone 99.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,764,049 people) and 0.41% is from migration (a loss of 7,211 people).
As of 2024, 1,955 residents or 0.8% of the population were not native-born in Sao Tome and Principe, compared to 49,997 people or 0.6% in Sierra Leone.
Biggest cities by population
|
Sao Tome
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Sao Tome | 65.5K |
| Trindade | 6.64K |
|
Sierra Leone
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Freetown | 951K |
| Bo | 234K |
| Kenema | 188K |
Compare countries by 7 more topics
Population differences between Sao Tome and Principe and Sierra Leone
|
Sao Tome
|
Sierra Leone
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 70.3 years | 62.3 years |
| Average age | 25.1 years | 24.4 years |
| Median age | 20.3 years | 20.5 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 49.7:50.3 | 49.9:50.1 |
| Fertility rate | 3.64 births per woman | 3.79 births per woman |
| Population density | 661 ppl/mi² | 323 ppl/mi² |
Population map with other countries
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).
GeoRank.org/population/sao-tome-and-principe/sierra-leone | CC BY
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
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